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Objective

Recommendation

Key issues

Actions taken

Objective

To avoid and, where necessary, mitigate deterioration of air quality.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Statewide strategy for air quality management being developed under the auspices of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Board provides a framework consistent with the implementation of the National Environment Protection Measure for ambient air quality and develops methods to identify and reduce ambient air pollution. Such methods would include:

• the application of best practice environmental management in industrial and commercial operations;
   
• the establishment of ambient air quality monitoring programmes; and
   
• the development of integrated inventories of air pollutants which prioritise pollutants according to their harmful environmental and health effects and the need for remedial action to minimise or prevent their production.
   

Key issues

This information is available from Volume 2 of the last SoE Report (SDAC 1997), which can be downloaded. The final objective, final recommendation, and a summary of key management actions are detailed below.

Actions taken

There has been some progress made in addressing the objective of this recommendation on ambient air quality since the previous SoE Report (1997), including the following.

• A draft Environment Protection Plan for Air Quality was developed in 2001, and was reviewed by the Environment Protection Policy Review Panel in 2002 who recommended its introduction as policy by mid-2003.
   
• A Monitoring Plan for Tasmania was developed in 2001 for the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the Ambient Air Quality National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM). This was conducted in response to the formal requirement of the NEPM, to establish monitoring procedures and commence assessing and reporting in accordance with the protocol of the Measure, within three years after the NEPMs commencement.
   
• Tasmania has set a goal of upgrading the operation of its air quality monitoring activities to be in accordance with the National Association of Testing Authorities' practices not later than 2003.
   
• Mandatory reporting was established in 2002 on 90 substance emissions by industries in Tasmania (under Section 43 of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994, as part of the National Pollutant Inventory).
   
• A wood-smoke mitigation program, including wood heater buy-back, has been established in Launceston.
   
• Environmental Improvement Programs were implemented at a number of industrial facilities.
   
• A number of local councils, including Hobart City Council, have banned backyard burning, although it is still permitted in Launceston.